A D B | R O M A N A N D W I L L I A M S
In New York Cit y, Roman and Williams opened a contemporar y guild dedicated
to their shared passions for design, food and flowers.
W R I T T E N B Y K A R I N E M O N I É
C A B I N E T S of C U R I O S I T I E S
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PHOTOGRAPHS:
COURTESY
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ROMAN
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WILLIAMS
S
ince 2002, Robin Standefer and
Stephen Alesch, the duo behind
Roman and Williams, have
designed restaurants, hotels, shops and
furniture all over the country. At the end
of 2017, they took a new step with the
launch of their flagship store. Located
in SoHo, Roman and Williams Guild
New York is spread over 7,000 square
feet and home to a furniture store, a
flower boutique, a cafe and a library.
"We view the Guild as part of our home,
and we made it the way we like things
to be," Standefer and Alesch say. "e
Guild is a democratic sanctuary, which
celebrates quality and the creative daring
of craftspeople and artists."
On display are glassware, ceramics,
sculpture, lighting fixtures, home
accessories and furniture pieces—
comprising the original collection
designed by Roman and Williams—
plus objects collected from around
the world. For textiles, Standefer and
Alesch collaborated with two legendary
companies: Fortuny in Italy, and de
Le Cuona in England. e space also
hosts La Mercerie, a 44-seat French
cafe helmed by chef Marie-Aude Rose
and decorated with pale-gray floors, an
indigo enameled kitchen and touches of
blue. Botanical expert Emily ompson,
meanwhile, manages the flower boutique
and the library.
In this eclectic place, the atmosphere
stirs a feeling of being at home while
every detail awakens the imagination
and senses. "We built the Guild because
we had a dream we wanted to share and
a place where we wanted to be," confess
Standefer and Alesch.
rwguild.com
